Chapter 347: The Poison Master’s Gentle Side
"Well, yes, it is." Salem leaned back in the wooden chair, tilting his head until his eyes rested on the night sky full of stars. "I’m not exactly the most cheerful person either."
"Your clothes tell me otherwise."
Salem chuckled. "At least, even if I’m filled with negative thoughts, my appearance doesn’t have to be gloomy." He gave a half-smile. "Life needs a little color, or else we’d all drown in darkness."
Even so, Primrose didn’t quite believe that was the only reason he often dressed like a clown instead of a refined young master.
The truth was, Salem had a face that was both handsome and strikingly beautiful. If he didn’t cover himself in those outrageous colors, he could easily leave people spellbound by his looks alone.
Maybe ... that was exactly why he wore those bright clothes.
From the fragments of his thoughts she had overheard, it seemed he had been harassed when he was a kid—perhaps even into adulthood—until Raven ended his abuser’s life.
That was all Primrose knew, and she had never dared to ask for details because their bond wasn’t close enough yet, and some wounds were too deep to touch.
"But Sir Vesper, about your fake marriage with Lady Raven," Primrose said gently, "doesn’t that mean you won’t be able to have a relationship with anyone else? People will always be watching you, since you’ll be the husband of a Marchioness."
That wasn’t even the worst possibility. If people ever discovered his true sexual preference, they would judge him harshly and tear him apart with their prejudice.
Primrose never saw it as a problem, though. Why would she? He hadn’t done anything wrong.
"Oh, don’t worry about that." Salem closed his eyes and murmured, "Men are such jerks anyway."
Primrose raised her brows, half amused and half curious. "That’s a bold statement coming from a man yourself."
He cracked one eye open, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Exactly. I should know better than anyone."
Primrose let out a small laugh, shaking her head. For once, the weight on her chest felt a little lighter. Salem had a way of twisting words that left her unsure whether he was serious or just mocking the world, but somehow, it eased her worries, even if only for a moment.
"Besides, sipping tea and following my Raven around every day sounds far more interesting than being stuck in some complicated relationship with a man." Salem let out a heavy sigh before turning his face toward Primrose. "Even you had your share of misfortune once you got involved with a man."
"Don’t say that." Primrose’s fingers unconsciously brushed over her wedding ring. "My husband is the greatest gift the universe has ever given me. I’ve never once regretted being with him."
Salem smiled faintly and straightened his posture. "That’s true. You share such a strong bond with His Majesty, so why worry so much? Like Raven whispered to you earlier, even in your darkest times, your bond will never be broken."
His voice softened as he went on. "I just want you to remember ... even when it feels like there’s no hope left, even when your whole world is covered in darkness, there will always be a moment when a little light breaks through. Even the smallest spark can be enough."
"You might think that bearing the child of a mighty lycan king is an impossible task, but dearest," he paused for a moment. "You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. I’ve been working with your blood and hair for a while, and I must say ... you’re unlike any ordinary human, Your Majesty."
Primrose stiffened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean by that?"
"I don’t have a clear answer for now," Salem admitted, "but I believe your body is stronger than most humans." He went on, his tone calm but certain, "You may look weak or helpless, but blood and magic energy in your body never lie."
Salem patted her shoulder, giving her a warm smile, something he so rarely showed to others. "So, don’t worry, you will be fine."
For a moment, Primrose simply stared at him, caught off guard by the unexpected gentleness in his expression. It was strange, almost unsettling, to see the infamous Sir Vesper looking more like an older brother than the sly poison master she knew.
Her lips curved into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you ... I’ll hold on to your words."
Without thinking, she gently leaned her head against his shoulder. Salem, on the other hand, slipped his arm around her shoulders and patted her head with surprising gentleness. "There, there ... You’ll be a mother soon, so try not to cry so much."
Primrose let out a soft laugh at his words, though her eyes grew misty. "I’m not crying. These are happy tears."
Salem chuckled along with her. "Whatever you say suits you, Your Majesty."
They didn’t say anything after that, letting the night breeze pass gently over them. The rustle of leaves and the distant sound of crickets filled the silence, wrapping them in a strange kind of peace.
As the night air grew colder, they finally made their way back into the palace. Salem, however, stepped aside and let Solene escort Primrose to her chamber.
He had no desire to run into Edmund because he was half-convinced the mighty lycan king would actually behead him just for letting the queen rest on his shoulder for a little while.
"Oh, don’t worry." Primrose smiled and said lightly, "My husband is not that shallow."
Salem raised a brow, giving her a doubtful look. "Mm, I’ll believe that when I still have my head tomorrow morning."
Primrose was about to say something when she suddenly heard her husband’s voice faintly in her mind.
[My wife just leaned on another man’s shoulder. I want to break his shoulder.]
Her eyes flicked around quickly, and to her surprise, she caught sight of Edmund’s silhouette hiding behind one of the palace pillars. He only revealed part of his face, but it was enough to give the impression that he was ready to kill someone.
[What if he’s only pretending not to like my wife?] Edmund’s thoughts turned darker, though his tone still carried a trace of restraint. [But ... I don’t want to make her sad by forbidding her to see her male friend. Fine. I’ll spare Sir Vesper for now. But if he ever dares to betray my wife’s trust, his head won’t stay attached to his body.]